The California Community College Chancellors Office, in partnership with the statewide Academic Senate and other professional groups, developed the Basic Skills Initiative to provide basic skills and ESL education to community college students who are underprepared for college-level work. The initiative has 5 main goals:

1. Research and data collection- Demonstrate student progress through basic skill objectives towards basic skill outcomes.
2. Professional development-Train community college faculty, staff, and administrators to implement BSI action plans on their own campuses.
3. Student equity– Incorporate college student equity plans with basic skills initiatives.
4. High school to college transition – Strengthening the connection.
5. Web site and electronic sharing – A central repository for strategies for working with ESL and basic skill students.

At College of Marin, any student enrolled in pre-college level math, English, or ESL is defined as a basic skills student. The Basic Skills Initiative Steering Committee (BSISC) is composed of faculty, staff and administrators from math, English, ESL, Counseling, EOPS, Assessment, Research, Tutoring, and Learning Resources. The BSISC meets regularly throughout the semester and is responsible for developing the annual Action and Expenditure plans, reviewing faculty and staff proposals, setting and implementing a research agenda, reporting BSI information back to respective departments, and participating in campus-wide BSI events.

College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is one of 112 public community colleges in California. Approximately 11,000 credit and noncredit students enroll annually.

College of Marin students seeking instruction related disability accommodations should contact the DSPS Office, (415) 485-9406. Individuals seeking special assistance to accommodate a disability may call the Student Affairs Office, (415) 485-9376.